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1. 5/25/2020 Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, Guatemala - Office of the Historian
https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1952-54Guat/d61 1/5
FOREIGN RELATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES, 1952–1954, GUATEMALA
61. Memorandum for the Record1
Washington, October 29, 1953.
SUBJECT
Status of PBSUCCESS
1. The present status of PBSUCCESS is as noted below:
a. Personnel.
Present planning calls for utilization of the following eld personnel:
[less than I line of source text not declassi ed], Guatemala
Chief of Station [less than 1 line of source text not declassi ed]—[name not declassi ed] GS–15 vice [name not declassi ed] GS–14
Operations O cer [less than 1 line of source text not declassi ed] PP—[name not declassi ed] GS–14
Operations O cer [less than 1 line of source text not declassi ed] FI—[name not declassi ed] GS–13
Operations O cer [less than 1 line of source text not declassi ed] FI—[name not declassi ed] GS–13
Reports O cer [less than 1 line of source text not declassi ed] PP—[name not declassi ed] GS–9
Admin. Asst.—[name not declassi ed] GS–7
Secty. Steno—[name not declassi ed] GS–5
Secty. Steno—[name not declassi ed] GS–5
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2. 5/25/2020 Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, Guatemala - Office of the Historian
https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1952-54Guat/d61 2/5
[Page 123]
Commo.—[name not declassi ed] GS–7
[less than 1 line of source text not declassi ed], Guatemala
Operations o cer, PP [less than 1 line of source text not declassi ed]—Donald O. Hediger GS–7
Operations O cer PP [less than 1 line of source text not declassi ed]—Eliot P. Razmara GS–9
[less than 1 line of source text not declassi ed], Honduras
Operations O cer FI [less than 1 line of source text not declassi ed]—[name not declassi ed] GS–7
[less than 1 line of source text not declassi ed], Honduras
Operations o cer PP [less than 1 line of source text not declassi ed]—Jacob R. Seekford GS–12
[less than 1 line of source text not declassi ed]—Vincent C. Pivall
[4 names not declassi ed], TDY replacement for [name not declassi ed], Heddiger and Razmara are in place and operating.
Seekford is on operational TDY in the United States now but is expected to return to Honduras shortly.
[name not declassi ed] is now at Headquarters but has not yet been released.
[name not declassi ed] is now at Headquarters with WH studying language and background. [1 line of source text not declassi ed]
[name not declassi ed] is scheduled to leave Caracas 28 October. [1 line of source text not declassi ed]
[name not declassi ed] is on duty in Panama. [less than 1 line of source text not declassi ed]
[name not declassi ed] is at Headquarters on duty with WH. [less than 1 line of source text not declassi ed]
[name not declassi ed] is at Headquarters on duty with WH. [less than 1 line of source text not declassi ed]
Slots for [2 names not declassi ed], Pivall, [name not declassi ed] and [name not declassi ed] are all awaiting CIA internal approval of T/O for Project PBSUCCESS.
b. Military Assistance to Nicaragua, El Salvador and Honduras.
Action to provide assistance as outlined in the Guatemala General Plan of Action was delayed by lack of approval on the part of the Joint Chiefs of Sta . Mr. Leddy, ARA
State, advises, however, that at the OCB meeting of 21 October2
action was taken to obtain JCS approval, that the JCS later reported favorably and that o cial
noti cation from Defense to State is expected very shortly. Upon receipt of noti cation, State will initiate negotiations with Nicaragua. Negotiations with El Salvador
and Honduras are expected to follow.
c. O cial U.S. Pressure on Guatemala.

3. 5/25/2020 Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, Guatemala - Office of the Historian
https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1952-54Guat/d61 3/5
[Page 124]
One aspect of the stronger, more critical attitude which the United States Government is taking toward Guatemala was manifested in Assistant Secretary Cabot’s
speech of 14 October.3
This has received extensive press and radio publicity in Latin America and will continue to be stressed through PP eld outlets.
Newly appointed Ambassador John Peurifoy is expected to arrive in Guatemala on 29 October.
d. Economic Warfare.
As decided by DD/P and CWH, the Director of Security was requested to obtain background information on a group of key gures in business and industry who are
judged to be in the most advantageous positions to provide technical guidance and operational support for EW operations directed against Guatemala. Completed
reports from I&S are acted on as operational clearances for the purposes of PBSUCCESS. Studies have been completed on [14-1/2 lines of source text not declassi ed].
e. Psychological Warfare.
Operations in the eld of psychological warfare have been developed in close coordination with the principal agent in this country, [name not declassi ed], who has been
established in a safe house near Headquarters. Detailed planning has been materially advanced and developmental operations initiated both here and in the eld. An
initial sum of $30,000. has been provided [name not declassi ed] for operations during the months of October and November. Of this, $15,000. has been transmitted to
RUFUS and the second $15,000. will be forwarded early in November. Expenditures are being based on the following breakdown:
Development of Intelligence Nets $ 8,000.
Development of Rumor Nets 4,000.
Subversion 10,000.
Production of Propaganda 5,500.
Contingencies 1,900.
$30,000.
Intelligence and rumor nets are now being expanded within Guatemala and in El Salvador, Nicaragua and Honduras.
An intensive study of opposition personalities has been initiated to determine their potential value to the RUFUS organization. In addition, key pro-government gures
are being investigated with a view toward possible subversion.
The RUFUS controlled student bulletin Ceuage continues to be published in Honduras and distributed clandestinely in Guatemala. Production is 5,000 copies bi-weekly.
Guatemalan government reaction has been marked by press denunciation and e orts toward suppression and con scation.
A RUFUS controlled radio station in El Salvador has initiated broadcasting. Apolitical material is being used for the present while RUFUS agents check reception in
various parts of the country.

4. 5/25/2020 Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, Guatemala - Office of the Historian
https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1952-54Guat/d61 4/5
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[Page 126]
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[Page 125]RUFUS controlled “committees” are being developed in Mexico, El Salvador and Nicaragua to serve the following purposes:
Preparation of propaganda and its introduction into Guatemala.
Provision of overt, controlled media for purchase of newspaper advertising space and radio time throughout Latin America.
Encouragement of Mexican and Central American support for the RUFUS campaign.
Diversion of Guatemalan government attention from the RUFUS group.
The RUFUS symbol-slogan, “God, Country, Liberty” is at present being publicized throughout Guatemala through the Ceuage bulletin. In preparation for the more
intensive campaigning to come, 600,000 symbol-slogan colored stickers and 1,000,000 smaller stamps have been prepared and are ready for shipment to RUFUS.
A book, “I Accuse”, written by RUFUS to present his aims and plans for the future is ready for printing. As advance propaganda, 600,000 colored stickers have been
prepared for distribution at the appropriate time.
In Mexico, the non-RUFUS controlled Committee for the Liberation of Guatemala continues to produce its bi-weekly bulletin for distribution within Guatemala and to a
selected mailing list in other countries. It has also prepared and distributed 30,000 comic books. Since it appears that distribution of both bulletin and comic books has
been faulty and since the material contained therein has been criticized for obvious falsehoods and inaccuracies, [name not declassi ed] plans to visit Mexico in an e ort
to arrange improved coordination, distribution and editorial e ort. [name not declassi ed] intends to o er the Mexican group a part in his overall plan and, if proper
control can be established, will provide nancial support. If not, support will be withheld from this group.
A sta agent in Guatemala under uno cial cover has contacted an o cer of the RUFUS a liated (CEUA–Comite Estudiante Universitario Anticommunista) and
through him had distributed 106,000 window displays, handbills and stickers in Guatemala City and in 123 outlying towns. He plans to continue this distribution on a
bi-weekly basis.
A sta agent from Mexico has completed a fact nding tour through Guatemala, British Honduras, Honduras and El Salvador and reports that RUFUS is highly regarded
as a potential liberator, that various potential support groups exist in Guatemala and in neighboring countries. He reports strong evidence of RUFUS’ internal
organizations being intact but seriously discouraged and in danger of premature action motivated by desperation. [name not declassi ed] is aware of this condition.
A eld memorandum has gone to [less than 1 line of source text not declassi ed] reemphasizing the importance of the anti-Guatemalan campaign and o ering
supplementary nancial support, news articles, photographs, cartoons and themes to encourage through our covert media, hemisphere wide KUGOWN support of the
objectives of PBSUCCESS.
As an aid to RUFUS production of propaganda in the eld, procurement of three Gestetner machines (simple, rugged, multilith type devices), three mimeographs and
three tape recorders has been initiated. One tape recorder has been turned over to [name not declassi ed].
In order to check on RUFUS’ activities and on the activities of other anti-Communists, Station Guatemala has been directed to take the following actions:
Transmit all rumors re Arbenz o cials, the Guatemalan Army, revolutionary activities and Communist activities.
Prepare a weekly “psychological barometer” report on local conditions.

5. 5/25/2020 Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, Guatemala - Office of the Historian
https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1952-54Guat/d61 5/5
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[Page 127]
Make a continuing study of morale factors among students, laborers, army o cers, enlisted men, government o cials, farm owners, and business and
professional men.
Prepare a list of the 25 most dangerous Communists and pro-Communists with information appropriate for use in character assassination.
Forward copies of all anti-Communist propaganda to Headquarters with details of distribution and reaction.
Provide Headquarters bi-weekly with negatives and captions illustrative of miserable living conditions in Guatemala.
Prepare an operation designed to ridicule the October National Fair.
f. Intelligence.
FI activity on the part of Station Guatemala has continued on a normal basis while production on the part of the RUFUS group has increased materially. Signi cant data
has been received regarding Guatemalan Communist and pro-Communist activity both internally and externally. Stress is being laid on obtaining factual material
suitable for use as evidence of Kremlin intervention in the internal a airs of Guatemala and of Guatemalan intervention in the a airs of friendly nations.
g. Paramilitary Action.
An initial shipment of approximately 15 tons of arms and ammunition is now ready for shipment from [less than 1 line of source text not declassi ed] and subsequent
transshipment to RUFUS at [place not declassi ed] Nicaragua. Requisite arrangements with the Munitions Control Board and Customs have been completed. Necessary
maintenance can be performed conveniently and legally [less than 1 line of source text not declassi ed]. This material is intended for use by RUFUS in his Nicaraguan
training center and to test facilities for clandestine introduction of arms into Guatemala.
2. WH has not yet been advised of the essential appropriation for PBSUCCESS having been obtained from the Bureau of the Budget.
[name not declassi ed]
1. Source: Central Intelligence Agency, Job 79–01025A, Box 76, Folder 2. Secret.↩
2. See Documents 58 and 59 .↩
3. Cabot spoke before the General Federation of Women’s Clubs on “Inter-American Cooperation and Hemisphere Solidarity.” While applauding moves toward
social reform in the country, he added: “But when we are resisting Communist aggression and subversion all over the world, no regime which is openly playing
the Communist game can expect from us the positive cooperation we normally seek to extend to all of our sister Republics. We know indeed that despite its
hypocritical appeals on behalf of the underprivileged, communism does not give a snap of the ngers for the welfare of the masses. It will liquidate them or send
them to slave labor camps by the millions to advance its tyrannical power.” For the full text of his speech, see Department of State Bulletin, October 26, 1953, pp.
554–559.↩